Page 12 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

Her breasts were pert, her nipples eagerly reaching for him. He clenched his jaw as his lips ached to be wrapped around one. He had to go slowly with her.

Finally, the gown was over her head, and she stood naked before him.

“You are incredibly beautiful, Madelene.”

She looked shyly up at him.

“We can stop this anytime. If you’re not comfortable all you have to do is tell me. But I want you to know, I’ll never hurt you.”

She nodded. “I know you won’t.”

The last thread of his composure vanished at those words. He deposited his glass clumsily on the nightstand beside him and wrapped a hand around the back of her head, crushing his lips to hers. Her soft breasts pressed against his skin and his aching manhood brushed against her belly.

“Tell me what you want,” he said between heaving breaths.

“I—I don’t know.” She shook her head.

Of course. It was a stupid thing for him to say. How could she possibly know? “How about this? We’ll try different things. If you like it, you say yes. If you don’t like it, you say no.”

A slow smile grew on her lips and desire sparkled in her eyes. “Yes.”

That single word nearly brought him to his knees. He lowered his lips to hers, his kiss less urgent this time. He needed to slow down. He skimmed his hand down her back and gently squeezed her bottom, pulling back to see her face.

“Is this a yes or a no?” He squeezed her flesh again.

“Yes.” Her voice was breathless.

He gave her bottom a light slap and she startled slightly. “Yes or no?”

She swallowed. “Maybe?”

He had expected her to say no. “Fair enough. We can always try that again later if you decide.” He reached down with his other hand and squeezed both sides of her bottom, pulling her firmly against him.

“Yes,” she whispered. Satisfaction purred in his chest and he massaged gently as he lowered his mouth to hers once more. Her backside was firm yet soft, and it perfectly filled his hands as he kneaded.

She wrapped her arms tentatively around him, her hands warm against his back.

“Yes,” he said between kisses. Her lips turned up against his and she held him more tightly.

Her hands roved over his back, her fingers playing at the edge of the towel that was wrapped around him.

She was trying to copy him, but it was best if his towel stayed in place, at least for now.

He left her lips and pressed open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone, stopping when he reached the edge of her shoulder. “Yes or no?”

“Yes.” She nodded for emphasis.

With his tongue, he slowly traced his way back to her throat, then stopped suddenly and stuck his finger in her nose. She jerked back. He simply raised his brow and waited.

“No.”

“Good.” Simon smiled and pressed a soft kiss to the furrow on her forehead. “I’m sorry. I need to be sure you’ll tell me no if I do something you don't like.”

“And what if I do something you don’t like?” She stuck her finger in his navel.

Simon laughed. “If you do something I don’t like, I’ll say no, so feel free to explore.” She removed her finger, but her gaze wandered lower to where his manhood jutted against the towel. Tentatively, she brushed her fingertip along its length.

He closed his eyes as desire crashed over him. “Yes, but not yet.”

“Why don’t we try to find more of your yeses?” He slowly traced his fingertip down the side of her neck, following a meandering path until he eventually reached her nipple. He brushed lightly across it and she sucked in a quick breath.

“Yes,” she said softly, raising her eyes up to meet his. He brushed over it twice more and she whimpered quietly. “Yes.”

The light from the window glowed over her smooth skin and her body quivered as he teased her nipple again. He leaned down slowly and flicked his tongue over the other one. She sighed, her head tipping back slightly. That was a definite yes.

He drew the nipple into his mouth, and she groaned his name.

It was too much. Her body, her passion, and more than anything, her trust. But she wouldn’t give him that if she knew the truth of him.

If she knew he’d just finished washing off another man’s blood.

He felt like an imposter, accepting her trust when she didn’t know who or what he really was.

He needed to give her some pleasure and send her back to bed.

He flicked her nipples repeatedly with the tip of his tongue until she was panting with need and eager for more.

Her stomach twitched as he brushed his hand over it.

Perhaps she was ticklish, but he didn’t have the control to explore that tonight.

He slipped two fingers between her legs, surprising a gasp from her.

“Yes or no?”

“Yes.” Her voice was low and breathy.

He didn’t move his fingers, but she rocked herself against them.

Dear God. “That’s it, Madelene.” His words seemed to bolster her confidence.

Her heat surrounded his fingers as she continued to slide against him and he wished desperately it was his cock instead.

He closed his eyes and groaned as the image filled his mind and conjured what it might feel like.

Her escalating moans drew him back to her lips, and he plunged his tongue inside her mouth.

Her body trembled as she moved, rocking herself more determinedly against his fingers.

With his other hand, he reached down and gripped her bottom, encouraging her movements.

Panting moans floated between her lips and she placed a hand on his chest to brace herself, her fingers a stark contrast against his fair skin.

She pulled her lips away from his and looked up at him. “Simon. Yes.” She chanted the word, and as her pleasure grew, so did the astonishment in her eyes.

Mother of Christ, he’d never been more desperate for anything in his life. Her body shook uncontrollably as she reached her peak. Her final yes was nearly a scream as she called out, followed by waves of unintelligible sounds.

Her dazed expression was the final straw.

He couldn’t stop himself. He had to finish.

He closed his eyes, reached inside the towel, and wrapped his fingers around himself.

Her juices coated his hand and he groaned as he stroked his length.

It was quick, and rough, and far better than it should have been with his own hand.

He bellowed an oath as pleasure exploded through him.

As his brain slowly found its way out of the euphoric fog, he opened his eyes. Madelene stared wordlessly at him, a look of amazement on her face. At least he hadn’t completely horrified her.

“I’m sorry, Madelene. You were just so incredible I couldn’t stop myself.”

Her soft laughter soothed him. “That’s an apology I never thought I’d hear.”

With his clean hand, he pulled her in for a gentle kiss. When they parted, he looked into her eyes. They were dark and rich, and they were trouble.

“You need to go back to bed, Madelene.”

She nodded and pulled away from him. “Goodnight, Simon.” She squeezed his hand, picked up her nightgown, and left.

He needed to find a place for her to go. And quickly.